New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady moved without apparent pain in his sprained left ankle at practice Thursday, rolling out on several plays without any sign of a limp.
In his final two team drills, Brady completed 9-of-11 passes.
“I think he did all right [Wednesday] and I think he was little better [Thursday],” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Brady. “I don’t think the ankle will be an issue.”
Brady’s day was marred by two interceptions, by defensive backs Je’Rod Cherry and Leonard Myers. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said one was Brady’s error and the other a receiver’s mistake.
Belichick tabbed Brady as the Super Bowl starter Wednesday rather than Drew Bledsoe. Brady has received daily treatment on his ankle since the injury in Sunday’s AFC championship game, and he still has some soreness. Bledsoe, who began the season as the starter, took over and helped guide the victory over the Steelers.
The decision to go with Brady seemed to have been all but made before Wednesday’s supposed test of Brady’s ankle at practice.
Belichick requested the pool reporter not to note that Brady took all the practice reps in one of the three practices before the Super Bowl. Were Bledsoe the possible starter, he would have received some work too.
Both quarterbacks were told of Belichick’s decision about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in individual meetings with the coach.
Brady said he “was really prepared either way. I went out to practice and it felt good. Ran around, took the drops, made the throws, got in, lifted weights, got on the bus, came back, watched film and went to the training room to get treatment on it.”
Bledsoe, who with his father created a foundation to help young people deal with difficult situations, now has a chance to practice what he tells kids to do.
“The right thing to do is to step back into the [backup] role that I’m [not] accustomed to,” Bledsoe said Thursday. “If you play quarterback in this league and play long enough, you’re going to go through a tough situation.
“I tell kids that you can handle yourself with dignity and self-respect. There is definitely something to that so practice what you preach.”
